Rail slide for a crossbow

ABSTRACT

A crossbow comprises a longitudinal rail, first and second bow limbs, a slide, and a bowstring. The longitudinal rail has a longitudinal slot. The first and second bow limbs are coupled to the rail and arranged on opposing sides of the rail. The slide has a transverse hole therethrough. The bowstring is coupled to the first and second bow limbs and passes through the transverse hole through the slide. The slide is engaged with the slot so as to be constrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable the bowstring to move (i) from a forward brace position to a rearward drawn position and (ii) from the rearward drawn position to the forward brace position. A forward surface of the slide can be structurally adapted to engage a rear end of a bolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.

The field of the present invention relates to crossbows. In particular,a rail slide for a crossbow is disclosed herein for guiding a bowstringof the crossbow.

SUMMARY

A crossbow comprises a longitudinal rail, first and second bow limbs, aslide, and a bowstring. The longitudinal rail has a longitudinal slot.The first and second bow limbs are coupled to the rail and arranged onopposing sides of the rail. The slide has a transverse holetherethrough. The bowstring is coupled to the first and second bow limbsand passes through the transverse hole through the slide. The slide isengaged with the slot so as to be constrained to move reciprocally alongthe rail and so as to enable the bowstring to move (i) from a forwardbrace position to a rearward drawn position and (ii) from the rearwarddrawn position to the forward brace position. A forward surface of theslide can be structurally adapted to engage a rear end of a bolt loadedonto the rail of the crossbow.

A method for using the crossbow comprises: (a) drawing the crossbow bypulling the bowstring from the forward brace position to the rearwarddrawn position; (b) with the bowstring in the rearward drawn position,placing a bolt onto the slot; and (c) with the bowstring in the rearwarddrawn position and the bolt on the slot, releasing the bowstring,thereby (i) enabling the bowstring to move from the rearward drawnposition to the forward brace position and (ii) propelling the bolt fromthe crossbow. A method for making the crossbow comprises: (a) engagingthe slide with the slot; (b) passing a bowstring through the transversehole through the slide; and (c) coupling the bowstring to the first andsecond bow limbs.

Objects and advantages pertaining to a crossbow rail slide may becomeapparent upon referring to the example embodiments illustrated in thedrawings and disclosed in the following written description or appendedclaims.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B are schematic top views of an example crossbow atbrace, drawn, and drawn with a bolt loaded, respectively.

FIGS. 3A-3E are schematic side, top, rear, bottom, and front views of anexample slide for the crossbow of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

FIG. 4 is a schematic transverse cross section of the slide of FIGS.3A-3E engaged with the crossbow of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

FIGS. 5A-5E are schematic side, top, rear, bottom, and front views ofanother example slide for the crossbow of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

FIG. 6 is a schematic transverse cross section of the slide of FIGS.5A-5E engaged with the crossbow of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 are schematic side views of three examples ofengagement of a forward surface of the slide with a rear end of a bolt.

It should be noted that the embodiments depicted are shown onlyschematically, and that not all features may be shown in full detail orin proper proportion. Certain features or structures may be exaggeratedrelative to others for clarity. It should be noted further that theembodiments shown are examples only, and should not be construed aslimiting the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, thefollowing definitions shall be employed. “Longitudinal” shall designatea direction generally parallel to the direction in which a bolt islaunched from the crossbow; “transverse” shall designate any directiongenerally perpendicular to the direction in which the bolt is launched.A longitudinal cross section is defined by a plane that is parallel tothe longitudinal direction and is viewed along a transverse direction; atransverse cross section is defined by a plane that is perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction and is viewed along the longitudinaldirection. “Forward” shall designate the longitudinal direction in whichthe launched bolt travels (i.e., away from the archer using thecrossbow); “rearward” or “backward” shall designate the oppositelongitudinal direction (i.e., toward the archer using the crossbow).

An example of a crossbow 10 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 (atbrace), FIG. 2A (drawn), and FIG. 2B (drawn with a bolt 200 loaded);FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B are top views. Rearward butt, handle, or triggerportions of the crossbow 100 can be of any suitable type or arrangementand are not shown. First and second resilient bow limbs 110 a and 110 bare coupled in any suitable way to a longitudinal rail 120 (typicallytoward a forward end of the rail 120) and are arranged on opposing sidesof the rail 120. The bow limbs 110 a/110 b can be of any suitable type(e.g., wood, metal, composite, or laminate; e.g., straight, curved,recurve, or reflex; any suitable cross section or taper profile) in anysuitable arrangement (e.g., nearly perpendicular to the rail, nearlyparallel to the rail extending rearward or forward, or at anintermediate orientation with respect to the rail; e.g., single limbs orspit limbs; e.g., one or more members extending to opposing sides of therail or one or more members each on only one side of the rail or theother; e.g., attached directly to the rail or attached to a riser thatis in turn attached to the rail).

A bowstring 150 is coupled to the bow limbs 110 a/110 b. In FIG. 1, thecrossbow 100 is “at brace,” i.e., in its resting, undrawn configurationwith the bowstring 150 in a forward brace position. In FIG. 2A, thecrossbow 100 has been drawn by pulling the bowstring 150 to a rearwarddrawn position; the bowstring 150 typically is held in the rearwarddrawn position by a trigger mechanism until the crossbow 100 is shot. InFIG. 2B, a bolt 200 has been loaded onto the bow by placing it onto therail 120 with its rear end (i.e., also referred to as the nock end, evenif there is no nock) toward the bowstring 150 and its tip pointed in aforward direction. The crossbow 100 is shot or fired by releasing thebowstring 150 (using the trigger mechanism), thereby enabling thebowstring 150 to move back to its forward brace position and to propelthe bolt 200 from the crossbow 100. Any suitable trigger mechanism canbe employed within the scope of the present disclosure or appendedclaims to hold the bowstring 150 in the rearward drawn position and torelease the bowstring 150 when the crossbow 100 is shot.

The bowstring 150 can be coupled to the limbs 110 a/110 b in anysuitable way. In the examples of FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, the bowstring 150is simply attached to the bow limbs 110 a/110 b. In other examples (notshown), the crossbow can be arranged as a compound bow, i.e., thebowstring 150 can be coupled to the bow limbs 110 a/110 b using multiplepulleys or cams which rotate and let out or take up the bowstring 150 asthe bowstring 150 is drawn or released, respectively. Such compound bowarrangements typically include one or more additional cables connectingthe limbs to each other (directly or via a cam or pulley) or to the rail120; those additional cables are taken up or let out as the bowstring150 is drawn or released. Myriad compound bow arrangements can beimplemented in crossbow 100, any of which falls within the scope of thepresent disclosure or appended claims.

The rail 120 includes a longitudinal slot 130 along at least asubstantial portion of its length. When a bolt 200 is loaded onto thecrossbow 100, it is placed onto the slot 130, which holds the bolt 200on the rail 120 and guides the bolt 200 as it is launched from thecrossbow 100 when the crossbow 100 is shot. The slot 130 can optionallyinclude beveled or chamfered edges (e.g., beveled edges shown in theexamples of FIGS. 4 and 6). The slot 130 also accommodates one vane ofthe fletching of the bolt 200; the accommodated vane extends downwardinto the slot 130, thereby enabling the bolt 200 to rest stably on theslot 130 of the rail 120. The slot 130 is arranged to enable thedownward-extending vane to pass unimpeded along the rail 120 and fromthe front end of the rail 120 when the crossbow 100 is shot.

A slide 140 is engaged with the slot 130 so as to be constrained to movereciprocally along the rail 120. A portion of the slide 140 extendingthrough the slot 130 provides lateral constraint; a portion of the slide140 engaging edges or the interior of the slot 130 provides verticalconstraint (e.g., to prevent the slide from lifting off from the rail120). A first example of the slide 140 is illustrated schematically inFIGS. 3A-3E and 4; a second example of the slide 140 is illustratedschematically in FIGS. 5A-5E and 6. The slide 140 includes a transversehole 144 through the slide 140. The bowstring 150 passes through thehole 144; the movement of the bowstring 150 is thereby constrained bythe reciprocal movement of the slide 140 along the rail 120. Thereciprocal movement of the slide 140 along the rail 120 enables thebowstring 150 to move (i) from a forward brace position to a rearwarddrawn position and (ii) from the rearward drawn position to the forwardbrace position. The constraint of the movement of the bowstring 150 bythe slide 140 can result in more reliable transfer of energy from thebowstring 150 to the bolt 200 when the crossbow 100 is shot. The hole144 can also be positioned to slightly displace vertically the bowstring150 from the rail 120, thereby reducing wear on the bowstring 150 or itsservings.

In the examples shown in the drawings, the transverse hole 144 issomewhat vertically elongated so as to accommodate any loops, servings,or other enlarged portions of the bowstring 150, thereby facilitatingpassage of the bowstring 150 through the hole 144 during stringing ofthe crossbow 100. In some other examples (not shown), the transversehole 144 might be only just large enough to accommodate the bowstring150; in those examples some loops or servings on the bowstring 150 wouldneed to be formed after passing the bowstring 150 through the hole 144.The hole 144 can be positioned as close as practicable to the rearwardend of the slide 140 so as to reduce potential interference with anybowstring retaining member(s) of the crossbow trigger mechanism (notshown). The longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the slide 140 arecan be made as small as practicable for the same reason, and also tolimit the mass of the slide 140.

In the example of FIGS. 3A-3E and 4, a transverse cross section of theslide 140 includes an inverted T-shaped portion formed by lateral,longitudinal slots 142. In the example of FIGS. 5A-5E and 6, atransverse cross section of the slide 140 includes a dovetailed portionformed by the lateral, longitudinal slots 142. In both examples, theslots 142 of the slide 140 receive the edges of the longitudinal slot130 so as to engage the slide 140 with the slot 130 to constrain theslide 140 to move reciprocally along the rail 120. Other structuralarrangements for achieving sliding engagement of the slide 140 along theslot 130 can be employed within the scope of the present disclosure orappended claims. In one additional example (not shown), the T-shapedportion can include the entire transverse cross section of the slide140, without having slots 142; laterally extending portions of theT-shaped cross section can engage an interior portion of thelongitudinal slot 130 to constrain the slide 140 to move reciprocallyalong the rail 120.

While the general desirability of shorter slide 140 is noted above, theslide 140 must also be sufficiently long to enable it to remain engagedwith the slot 130 when the crossbow 100 is shot. If the slide is tooshort, the slide 140 has been observed to fail structurally (i.e., breakapart) when the crossbow 100 is shot. The minimum practicable length ofthe slide 140 can vary depending on a number of factors including one ormore of: tensile, compressive, or shear strength of the one or morematerials constituting the slide 140; tolerance of the engagement of theslide 140 with the slot 130 and the resulting permitted pitching motionof the slide 140 relative to the rail 120; the coefficient of frictionof the slide 140 moving along the slot 130; the mass of the bolt 200; orthe draw weight of the crossbow 100. For a given set of values of thoseparameters, a minimum length of the slide 140 can be empiricallydetermined that results in acceptably infrequent structural failure ofthe slide 140. In one specific example (an acetal slide 140 on analuminum rail 120), a slide 140 about 0.5 inches long was observed to besufficiently long to avoid structural failure when used with a crossbowhaving a speed of about 350 feet/second (using a 390 grain bolt).

A forward surface of the slide 140 is structurally adapted to engage arear end of the bolt 200 that is loaded onto the rail 120 of thecrossbow 100. While the general desirability of smaller slide 140 isnoted above, the slide 140 preferably has transverse dimensionssufficiently large to engage at least a substantial portion of the crosssectional area of the rear end of the bolt 200 and to maintain thatengagement when the crossbow is shot and the bolt 200 is propelled formthe crossbow 100. In the simplest example arrangement (FIG. 7), theforward surface of the slide 140 is substantially flat and engages asubstantially flat rear surface of the bolt 200 (often a metal or otherinsert 210). If the insert 210 has a central hole (often threaded topermit attachment of a grooved nock), another example arrangement (notshown) can include a protrusion or convexity on the forward surface ofthe slide 140 positioned to be received within the central hole toenhance engagement of the slide 140 with the bolt 200. In anotherexample arrangement (FIG. 8), the forward surface of the slide 140includes a rearwardly extending recessed cavity 148 arranged to receivethe rear end of the bolt 200; the recessed cavity 148 can be acylindrical bore or other suitable shape, and can be blind,counter-bored, counter-sunk, or otherwise structurally arranged toengage the rear end of bolt 200. In arrangements wherein the rear end ofthe bolt 200 is flat, any one of the vanes of the fletching can bereceived in the groove 130 when the bolt is loaded onto the rail 120. Instill another example arrangement (FIG. 9), the forward surface of theslide 140 can include a protruding horizontal ridge 149 structurallyarranged to engage a bowstring groove of a nock 220 of the bolt 200.Other suitable arrangements for engaging the bolt 200 with the frontsurface of the slide 140 can be employed within the scope of the presentdisclosure or appended claims.

The examples shown in the drawings include a second transverse passage146. Passage 146 can be optionally included to reduce the mass of theslide. The mass of the slide correspondingly decreases the kineticenergy imparted to the bolt 200 when the crossbow is shot; reduction ofthat mass is generally desirable. Any suitable holes, bores, passages,relief slots, and so forth can be employed to reduce the mass of theslide 140, provided the strength or structural integrity of the slide140 is not unduly compromised.

Instead of reducing the mass of slide 140, the mass can be purposefullyincreased to mitigate the effects of a so-called dry firing or dryloosing of the crossbow (i.e., shooting the drawn crossbow withoutloading a bolt; this frequently results in significant damage to thecrossbow or injury to the user). Increased mass of the slide 140dissipates some of the energy of a dry fire and can reduce thelikelihood of damage or injury, at the expense of reduced kinetic energyimparted to the bolt 200 when the crossbow 100 is shot properly loadedwith the bolt 200. In one specific example, a slide 140 of about 35grains (i.e., about 2.2 grams) was observed to be sufficiently heavy toavoid damage or injury when used with a crossbow having a speed of about350 feet/second (using a 390 grain bolt).

Any suitable strong, rigid one or more materials can be used to form theslide 140. One criterion for choosing one or more materials for theslide 140 can be sufficiently low friction with the material of the rail120 (i.e., high lubricity); another selection criterion can besufficient resistance to wear. If low mass is desired, then low densitycan be another criterion; conversely, if high mass is desired, then highdensity can be another criterion. Polymer or composite materials (e.g.,fiber-reinforced polymer) are often suitable choices for slide 140 whenthe rail 120 is metal; metal can be a suitable choice for slide 140 ifthe rail is polymer or composite. Some specific examples of materialsfor the slide 140 can include, e.g., MDS nylon (molybdenum disulfidefilled nylon), Delrin® (polyoxymethylene a/k/a acetal), glass-filledTeflon® (polytetrafluoroethylene and glass fibers), orultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene. Any other suitable one or morematerials can be employed.

In addition to the preceding, the following examples fall within thescope of the present disclosure or appended claims:

Example 1

A crossbow comprising: (a) a longitudinal rail having a longitudinalslot; (b) first and second bow limbs coupled to the rail and arranged onopposing sides of the rail; (c) a slide having a transverse holetherethrough; and (d) a bowstring coupled to the first and second bowlimbs and passing through the transverse hole through the slide, (e)wherein the slide is engaged with the slot so as to be constrained tomove reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable the bowstring tomove (i) from a forward brace position to a rearward drawn position and(ii) from the rearward drawn position to the forward brace position.

Example 2

A method for using a crossbow, the method comprising:

(a) drawing the crossbow by pulling a bowstring of the crossbow from aforward brace position to a rearward drawn position; (b) with thebowstring held in the rearward drawn position, placing a bolt onto alongitudinal slot of a longitudinal rail of the crossbow; and (c) withthe bowstring in the rearward drawn position and the bolt on the slot,releasing the bowstring, thereby (i) enabling the bowstring to move fromthe rearward drawn position to the forward brace position and (ii)propelling the bolt from the crossbow, (d) wherein the crossbowcomprises: (i) the longitudinal rail having the longitudinal slot; (ii)first and second bow limbs coupled to the rail and arranged on opposingsides of the rail; (iii) a slide having a transverse hole therethrough;and (iv) the bowstring, said bowstring being coupled to the first andsecond bow limbs and passing through the transverse hole through theslide, and (e) wherein the slide is engaged with the slot so as to beconstrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable thebowstring to move (i) from the forward brace position to the rearwarddrawn position and (ii) from the rearward drawn position to the forwardbrace position.

Example 3

A method for making a crossbow, the method comprising:

(a) engaging a slide with a longitudinal slot of a longitudinal rail ofthe crossbow; (b) passing a bowstring through a transverse hole throughthe slide; and (c) coupling the bowstring to first and second bow limbs,said bow limbs being coupled to the rail and arranged on opposing sidesof the rail, (d) wherein the slide is engaged with the slot so as to beconstrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable thebowstring to move from a forward brace position to a rearward drawnposition and from the rearward drawn position to the forward braceposition.

Example 4

The crossbow or method of any one of Examples 1 through 3 wherein thecrossbow further comprises a transverse riser substantially rigidlyattached to a forward portion of the rail, and the first and secondlimbs are attached to respective first and second lateral portions ofthe riser on opposite sides of the rail.

Example 5

The crossbow or method of any one of Examples 1 through 4 wherein theslide is sufficiently heavy so as to substantially prevent damage to thecrossbow or injury to a user of the crossbow when the bowstring isreleased from the rearward drawn position without a/the bolt on therail.

Example 6

The crossbow or method of any one of Examples 1 through 5 wherein theslide is sufficiently long so as to substantially prevent structuralfailure of the slide when the bowstring is released from the rearwarddrawn position.

Example 7

The crossbow or method of any one of Examples 1 through 6 wherein aforward surface of the slide is structurally adapted to engage a rearend of a bolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.

Example 8

The crossbow or method of Example 7 wherein the forward surface of theslide is substantially flat.

Example 9

The crossbow or method of Example 7 wherein the forward surface of theslide includes a rearwardly extending recessed cavity arranged toreceive therein the rear end of the bolt loaded onto the rail of thecrossbow.

Example 10

The crossbow or method of Example 7 wherein the forward surface of theslide includes a protruding horizontal ridge structurally arranged toengage a bowstring groove of a nock at the rear end of the bolt loadedonto the rail of the crossbow.

Example 11

The crossbow or method of any one of Examples 1 through 10 wherein oneor both of the slide or the slot are structurally arranged so as tosubstantially prevent lift off of the slide from the rail.

Example 12

The crossbow or method of Example 11 wherein the slide has a transversecross section that includes a dovetailed portion structurally arrangedto engage the slot and constrain the slide to move reciprocally alongthe rail.

Example 13

The crossbow or method of Example 11 wherein the slide has a transversecross section that includes an inverted T-shaped portion structurallyarranged to engage the slot and constrain the slide to move reciprocallyalong the rail.

It is intended that equivalents of the disclosed example embodiments andmethods shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure orappended claims. It is intended that the disclosed example embodimentsand methods, and equivalents thereof, may be modified while remainingwithin the scope of the present disclosure or appended claims.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be groupedtogether in several example embodiments for the purpose of streamliningthe disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that any claimed embodiment requires morefeatures than are expressly recited in the corresponding claim. Rather,as the appended claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in lessthan all features of a single disclosed example embodiment. Thus, theappended claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description,with each claim standing on its own as a separate disclosed embodiment.However, the present disclosure shall also be construed as implicitlydisclosing any embodiment having any suitable set of one or moredisclosed or claimed features (i.e., a set of features that are neitherincompatible nor mutually exclusive) that appear in the presentdisclosure or the appended claims, including those sets that may not beexplicitly disclosed herein. It should be further noted that the scopeof the appended claims does not necessarily encompass the whole of thesubject matter disclosed herein.

For purposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, theconjunction “or” is to be construed inclusively (e.g., “a dog or a cat”would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or both”; e.g., “a dog, a cat,or a mouse” would be interpreted as “a dog, or a cat, or a mouse, or anytwo, or all three”), unless: (i) it is explicitly stated otherwise,e.g., by use of “either . . . or,” “only one of,” or similar language;or (ii) two or more of the listed alternatives are mutually exclusivewithin the particular context, in which case “or” would encompass onlythose combinations involving non-mutually-exclusive alternatives. Forpurposes of the present disclosure and appended claims, the words“comprising,” “including,” “having,” and variants thereof, wherever theyappear, shall be construed as open ended terminology, with the samemeaning as if the phrase “at least” were appended after each instancethereof, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

In the appended claims, if the provisions of 35 USC §112 ¶6 are desiredto be invoked in an apparatus claim, then the word “means” will appearin that apparatus claim. If those provisions are desired to be invokedin a method claim, the words “a step for” will appear in that methodclaim. Conversely, if the words “means” or “a step for” do not appear ina claim, then the provisions of 35 USC §112 ¶6 are not intended to beinvoked for that claim.

If any one or more disclosures are incorporated herein by reference andsuch incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with, or differin scope from, the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict,broader disclosure, or broader definition of terms, the presentdisclosure controls. If such incorporated disclosures conflict in partor whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, thelater-dated disclosure controls.

The Abstract is provided as required as an aid to those searching forspecific subject matter within the patent literature. However, theAbstract is not intended to imply that any elements, features, orlimitations recited therein are necessarily encompassed by anyparticular claim. The scope of subject matter encompassed by each claimshall be determined by the recitation of only that claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A crossbow comprising: (a) a longitudinal railhaving a longitudinal slot; (b) first and second bow limbs coupled tothe rail and arranged on opposing sides of the rail; (c) a slide havinga transverse hole therethrough; and (d) a bowstring coupled to the firstand second bow limbs and passing through the transverse hole through theslide, (e) wherein the slide is engaged with the slot so as to beconstrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable thebowstring to move (i) from a forward brace position to a rearward drawnposition and (ii) from the rearward drawn position to the forward braceposition.
 2. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein the slide is sufficientlyheavy so as to substantially prevent damage to the crossbow or injury toa user of the crossbow when the bowstring is released from the rearwarddrawn position without a/the bolt on the rail.
 3. The crossbow of claim1 wherein the slide is sufficiently long so as to substantially preventstructural failure of the slide when the bowstring is released from therearward drawn position.
 4. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein a forwardsurface of the slide is structurally adapted to engage a rear end of abolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 5. The crossbow of claim 4wherein the forward surface of the slide is substantially flat.
 6. Thecrossbow of claim 4 wherein the forward surface of the slide includes arearwardly extending recessed cavity arranged to receive therein therear end of the bolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 7. Thecrossbow of claim 4 wherein the forward surface of the slide includes aprotruding horizontal ridge structurally arranged to engage a bowstringgroove of a nock at the rear end of the bolt loaded onto the rail of thecrossbow.
 8. The crossbow of claim 1 wherein one or both of the slide orthe slot are structurally arranged so as to substantially prevent liftoff of the slide from the rail.
 9. The crossbow of claim 8 wherein theslide has a transverse cross section that includes a dovetailed portionstructurally arranged to engage the slot and constrain the slide to movereciprocally along the rail.
 10. The crossbow of claim 8 wherein theslide has a transverse cross section that includes an inverted T-shapedportion structurally arranged to engage the slot and constrain the slideto move reciprocally along the rail.
 11. A method for using a crossbow,the method comprising: (a) drawing the crossbow by pulling a bowstringof the crossbow from a forward brace position to a rearward drawnposition; (b) with the bowstring held in the rearward drawn position,placing a bolt onto a longitudinal slot of a longitudinal rail of thecrossbow; and (c) with the bowstring in the rearward drawn position andthe bolt on the slot, releasing the bowstring, thereby (i) enabling thebowstring to move from the rearward drawn position to the forward braceposition and (ii) propelling the bolt from the crossbow, (d) wherein thecrossbow comprises: (i) the longitudinal rail having the longitudinalslot; (ii) first and second bow limbs coupled to the rail and arrangedon opposing sides of the rail; (iii) a slide having a transverse holetherethrough; and (iv) the bowstring, said bowstring being coupled tothe first and second bow limbs and passing through the transverse holethrough the slide, and (e) wherein the slide is engaged with the slot soas to be constrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as toenable the bowstring to move (i) from the forward brace position to therearward drawn position and (ii) from the rearward drawn position to theforward brace position.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the slide issufficiently heavy so as to substantially prevent damage to the crossbowor injury to a user of the crossbow when the bowstring is released fromthe rearward drawn position without a/the bolt on the rail.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 wherein the slide is sufficiently long so as tosubstantially prevent structural failure of the slide when the bowstringis released from the rearward drawn position.
 14. The method of claim 11wherein a forward surface of the slide is structurally adapted to engagea rear end of a bolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 15. Themethod of claim 14 wherein the forward surface of the slide issubstantially flat.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the forwardsurface of the slide includes a rearwardly extending recessed cavityarranged to receive therein the rear end of the bolt loaded onto therail of the crossbow.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the forwardsurface of the slide includes a protruding horizontal ridge structurallyarranged to engage a bowstring groove of a nock at the rear end of thebolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 18. The method of claim 11wherein one or both of the slide or the slot are structurally arrangedso as to substantially prevent lift off of the slide from the rail. 19.The method of claim 18 wherein the slide has a transverse cross sectionthat includes a dovetailed portion structurally arranged to engage theslot and constrain the slide to move reciprocally along the rail. 20.The method of claim 18 wherein the slide has a transverse cross sectionthat includes an inverted T-shaped portion structurally arranged toengage the slot and constrain the slide to move reciprocally along therail.
 21. A method for making a crossbow, the method comprising: (a)engaging a slide with a longitudinal slot of a longitudinal rail of thecrossbow; (b) passing a bowstring through a transverse hole through theslide; and (c) coupling the bowstring to first and second bow limbs,said bow limbs being coupled to the rail and arranged on opposing sidesof the rail, (d) wherein the slide is engaged with the slot so as to beconstrained to move reciprocally along the rail and so as to enable thebowstring to move from a forward brace position to a rearward drawnposition and from the rearward drawn position to the forward braceposition.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the slide is sufficientlyheavy so as to substantially prevent damage to the crossbow or injury toa user of the crossbow when the bowstring is released from the rearwarddrawn position without a/the bolt on the rail.
 23. The method of claim21 wherein the slide is sufficiently long so as to substantially preventstructural failure of the slide when the bowstring is released from therearward drawn position.
 24. The method of claim 21 wherein a forwardsurface of the slide is structurally adapted to engage a rear end of abolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 25. The method of claim 24wherein the forward surface of the slide is substantially flat.
 26. Themethod of claim 24 wherein the forward surface of the slide includes arearwardly extending recessed cavity arranged to receive therein therear end of the bolt loaded onto the rail of the crossbow.
 27. Themethod of claim 24 wherein the forward surface of the slide includes aprotruding horizontal ridge structurally arranged to engage a bowstringgroove of a nock at the rear end of the bolt loaded onto the rail of thecrossbow.
 28. The method of claim 21 wherein one or both of the slide orthe slot are structurally arranged so as to substantially prevent liftoff of the slide from the rail.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein theslide has a transverse cross section that includes a dovetailed portionstructurally arranged to engage the slot and constrain the slide to movereciprocally along the rail.
 30. The method of claim 28 wherein theslide has a transverse cross section that includes an inverted T-shapedportion structurally arranged to engage the slot and constrain the slideto move reciprocally along the rail.